Historical Fencing Manuals: War, Keeping the Peace and Self Defence
Talk by Jürg Gassmann in Ardkeen Library on Tuesday 30th September at 6:30pm
Fencer and historian Jürg Gassmann will give a talk exploring the history of European Fencing manuals. From the 1300s onwards and across Europe, we find treatises on fighting with the sword and other weapons. Some describe duels between husband and wife, other fencing practice between monks and women. One of the authors was hanged for embezzlement; another was declared a heretic, Who produced these treatises , who were they meant for, what did they teach and how does their legacy live on today?
Replicas of historical weapons will be on hand for illustration.
Free Event – Booking Required
For bookings and information please contact Ardkeen Library on 051 849755 or email ardkeenlibrary@waterfordcouncil.ie.
Jürg Gassmann is a lawyer by training living near Wexford, Ireland. He obtained his PhD in 1989, and works as a lawyer in private practice. An unaffiliated researcher, Jürg writes about medieval cavalry and Swiss military and political organisation. He participates in academic conferences, publishes regularly in Acta Periodica Duellatorum as well as the Nuova Antologia Militare, and has contributed chapters to several books. On the practical side, Jürg and his two sons began learning about historical European martial arts in 2010. Since then, he has co-founded several HEMA associations, competed in tournaments across Europe, and as member of the Wexford- and Waterford-based Goats Head Historical Fencing participates in the historical European martial arts community with an interest in longsword and rapier fencing. Together with his wife, they preserve the endangered Spanish Mustang breed of horses and are currently raising an Irish Wolfhound.
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